KUCHING: Sarawak has had enough of being manipulated and cheated, said Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief, Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
He was responding to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s latest statement that snuffed out Sabah and Sarawak’s hope for 20 per cent gas-oil royalty which was promised prior to and during the 14th general election.
The prime minister had said the 20% was not “really not workable”, which really means Petronas won’t pay a dime.
This was too much for Snowdan.
“Enough is enough,” he said. “How much longer do we allow ourselves to be robbed blind?
“There is no reason why Sarawakians should trust, let alone support the Pakatan Harapan (PH) led government. In the next general election (GE), vote them out.”
He further stated that Putrajaya’s cheating heart had become very plain for Sarawakians to see, except for those who are beholden to their Malayan bosses and those who don’t care one way or the other.
He bemoaned the fact that the current central government had refused to honour what legally belongs to the state despite having made sweet promises to the contrary. It saddens him to no end that Sarawak’s oil and gas have been siphoned out for decades.
“If over the past many decades, it had been hidden from our intelligence, it is only right for us to demand that the wrong be made right now that we know what has been going on.
“Snuffing out the 20 per cent royalty demand is a move to buy time. It’s an old trick and not a trustworthy move even at face value. Once you cheat, you’ll always be distrusted,” said Snowdan.
He argued that after enriching Malaya using Sarawak’s riches for several decades Sarawakians can’t be faulted for expecting Petronas to pay up the state-imposed sales tax due by Oct 31 this year.
If Petronas fails to pay up Sarawak would have to pursue the matter through the courts and if necessary, to apply for injunction to force Petronas to stop its operations pending payment of the sales tax.
